.Here Baa Atoll, a private island retreat in the Maldives, has been named the No. 6 Resort in the Indian Ocean in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026.

The annual Readers’ Choice Awards recognise hotels, resorts, destinations, airlines and other travel experiences based on votes submitted by Condé Nast Traveler readers.

The recognition places .Here Baa Atoll among the highest-ranked resorts in the Indian Ocean and comes during a milestone year for the property.

Located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, .Here Baa Atoll comprises nine residences spread across two natural islands, Somewhere and Nowhere.

Somewhere features seven three- and four-bedroom residences extending from the beach towards the lagoon and designed for families and groups travelling together. Each residence offers indoor and outdoor living spaces, multiple pools, private dining and personalised Roohu service. Guests are transferred directly to their residence by private speedboat, avoiding a conventional lobby and check-in process.

Condé Nast Traveler has previously highlighted the resort for its emphasis on privacy, its beach-to-lagoon residences and its discreet approach to luxury.

The resort experience also includes Nowhere Private Island, which is reserved exclusively for a single group at a time. The island features a five-bedroom Presidential Residence and a three-bedroom Lagoon Residence, providing eight bedrooms and 3,329 square metres of private living space, supported by dedicated service and individually curated experiences.

The Readers’ Choice Award follows several other recognitions received by .Here Baa Atoll during 2026. The resort was included in the Condé Nast Traveler Hot List 2026, with the publication highlighting its residences and design. It has also received international recognition for its architecture and design, alongside creative collaborators Kulör Group, Muza Lab and Topo Design Studio.

Elina Adiyan, Resident Manager of .Here Baa Atoll, said: “To be recognised by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler so early in our journey is incredibly meaningful. .Here was created around a simple idea: to give guests extraordinary space, genuine privacy and the freedom to experience the Maldives entirely on their own terms. This recognition belongs equally to our team, whose care and dedication bring that vision to life every day. We are deeply grateful to everyone who voted for us.”

The latest recognition adds to .Here Baa Atoll’s growing international profile within the luxury travel sector, with the resort positioning privacy, spacious accommodation, design and personalised service at the centre of its guest experience.

Festive season in the Maldives is getting a sporting upgrade, as Kandima Maldives welcomes some of the most acclaimed names in women’s football to its three-kilometre island this festive season, giving guests the chance to get closer to the game through coaching, matches, challenges and beachside experiences.

The active lifestyle resort’s festive season will unfold in two chapters: Christmas in Paradise, from 20–25 December, followed by Showtime Fairground from 26–31 December, before culminating in a spectacular Kandima-style New Year’s Eve celebration.

The appetite for swapping the traditional festive break for sunshine continues to grow among British and Irish travellers, with Thomas Cook reporting a 20% year-on-year increase in overseas holidays last season. Kandima offers an active take on the tropical Christmas, with music, sport and adventure at the heart of the programme.

Christmas in Paradise

From 20 December until Christmas Day, Kandima will embrace the magic of a Christmas in paradise, with the island brought to life through festive dining, family experiences, live entertainment and Maldivian celebrations. The festivities begin with Kandima’s Festive Tree Lighting and Welcome Sundowner, followed by a programme of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day experiences including a gala dinner, festive harmonies, Santa’s arrival on the beach, Christmas Day brunch, family activities and the annual Christmas Day Run. Families can also get involved with festive workshops, scavenger hunts and creative activities at Kandiland, while live music, local performances and beachside entertainment keep the celebrations going across the island.

Meet the Game Changers

Taking centre stage are Lucy Bronze MBE and Ona Batlle, who will spend some of their downtime at Kandima between Christmas and New Year amid the WSL season, and ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Bronze, a five-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner and England international, and Spanish international Batlle will bring their world-class experience from the highest level of the women’s game to the island. Guests of all ages will have the opportunity to learn from the pair, with family friendly beach games and a festive penalty shootout on the programme.

They will be joined by viral British football family, The Wingroves, who will host a large-scale family adventure game on 15 December, while former professional tennis player Dustin Brown will run daily tennis clinics, one-to-one coaching and the Dustin Brown Festive Cup from 17 – 27 December.

Adding to the island line-up, DJ Giulia Siegel will soundtrack festive sundowners, while Chef Ludwig Heer will create playful culinary experiences and guest-facing dining moments throughout the festive period. Magician Mr Marvel will add a sprinkle of festive mischief from 23–26 December.

The Showtime Fairground

Between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, Showtime Fairground will turn Kandima into a playful celebration of sport, entertainment, creativity and adventure.

The programme includes Krew vs Guests Beach Olympics, Fast Track e-go-kart racing, the KULA Fun Run, a mini-island tri-challenge, football, watersports and beach games, alongside live music, roaming entertainment, Maldivian performances, art workshops and festive dining.

For families, Kandiland will host festive workshops, scavenger hunts, glow parties and Christmas cinema, while PlaySpace offers bowling, arcade games, escape rooms and karaoke. Adults can head to Forbidden Bar for DJ sessions and an adults-only White Party.

The island will also spotlight the Maldives itself, with the KULA Art Festival showcasing local artists and craftspeople across digital art, coffee art, acrylic, henna, spray paint and traditional crafts, alongside Maldivian street food, artisan markets and local performances. The KULA Art Initiative operates a dedicated non-profit fund to support local creatives and community projects, and just this summer, held its first UNDP BIOFIN-backed Art for Biodiversity Exhibition on Kandima’s shores.

The Grand Showtime Finale

The festive season reaches its peak on New Year’s Eve with The Showtime Fairground Grand Finale, bringing together the island’s main entertainment and performances for one final celebration. The celebrations culminate in the Kandima Showtime Celebration, welcoming in the New Year with fire, beats and percussion, live performances from DC2 Entertainment and a show-stopping fireworks celebration on Smoked Beach. The action continues into 2027 with Kandima Running Club’s first run of the year, a Fast Track Grand Prix, island challenges, Maldivian performances and an adults-only DJ White Party.

At Kandima, the festive season is less about sitting still and more about getting involved, with guests invited to make the island their playground.

For more information, download the full festive programme on the website here. Kandima’s Festive Season runs from 20 December 2026 to 7 January 2027, with The Showtime Fairground taking over the island from 26–31 December. Kandima is offering up to 45% off direct room rates between 24 December and 10 January. For more information and to book direct, visit kandima.com, with prices starting at £360 per villa per night on a B&B basis based on two adults sharing before offers.

There are festive celebrations. And then there are journeys that stay with you long after the season has ended. This festive season, RAH GILI MALDIVES, the inaugural island within the SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS collection, introduces Circle of Light, an immersive island journey unfolding from 21 December 2026 to 7 January 2027. Inspired by the changing light of the Maldivian day, the experience brings together food, culture, wellness, family and celebration within one evolving story.

At its heart is the SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS philosophy of Live Your Lifestyle. Rather than asking guests to follow a fixed festive programme, RAH GILI creates the setting and the possibilities, leaving each person free to decide how their days unfold. One morning may begin with meditation at sunrise; another with a long breakfast and time on the water. Families can spend the day together or follow different adventures before meeting again as evening settles over the island. That freedom is given a distinctly Maldivian character through Rayyithun — the People of the Island — whose warmth, traditions and sense of community bring the experience to life.

A Story Told Through Light

At RAH GILI, light is more than decoration. It is the thread running through the season.

The concept follows the natural cycle of the Maldivian sun. Sunrise marks new beginnings; golden noon brings discovery; starlight belongs to laughter and friendship; and candlelight draws people together. From the first glow over the Indian Ocean to lantern-lit shores, firelit gatherings and dinners beneath the stars, the mood of the island changes as the day does.

Across six chapters, the festive story moves naturally from Christmas into Maldivian culture, exploration, New Year and renewal. Guests gather for the ceremonial lighting of the First Light before Christmas unfolds through family traditions, Santa’s arrival by sea, children’s adventures and evenings beneath illuminated skies. As the season progresses, the Maldives itself comes further into view. Boduberu drumming, island craftsmanship, Rayyithun-led performances and culinary experiences sit alongside wine journeys and floating experiences. The intention is not to place culture on a stage, but to allow the character of the islands to form part of everyday life at RAH GILI.

Wellness follows the same rhythm. Sunrise yoga, floating meditation, sound healing and mindful rituals create moments of stillness between celebration, while evenings move from candlelit beach dining to curated wine and sake pairings. Younger guests have their own adventures through festive workshops, treasure hunts and glow games. Small rituals give guests a way to make the experience their own. Personal wishes can be written before illuminated lanterns are released across the lagoon, creating moments of reflection and connection throughout the stay.

The Island Comes Together

On 31 December, the journey reaches its crescendo with the Grand Circle of Light Gala. Champagne receptions lead into dinner, international performers, dancers and a fire performance, before midnight fireworks illuminate the Indian Ocean. Yet New Year’s Eve is conceived as more than a single night of spectacle. It is the moment when families, couples, friends and Rayyithun come together before the year turns.

Champagne receptions lead into dinner, international performers and dancers before midnight fireworks illuminate the Indian Ocean. Yet New Year’s Eve is conceived as more than a single night of spectacle. It is the moment when families, couples, friends and Rayyithun come together before the year turns.

The first morning of 2027 brings a change of pace. Sunrise meditation, wellness rituals and a recovery brunch give way to days shaped by ocean adventures, food, family time and island traditions. Orthodox Christmas celebrations continue the festive story into January. This movement between energy and stillness is central to the experience. Under Live Your Lifestyle, celebration does not mean having to do everything. Guests are free to choose the moments that matter to them.

A Festive Soundtrack By DJ Ravin From Buddha Bar Paris

Music becomes part of the season’s rhythm with DJ Ravin from Buddha Bar Paris joining RAH GILI for both the Christmas Gala Dinner on 24 December 2026 and the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner on 31 December 2026.

Known for a sound that moves between global influences, atmosphere and place, Ravin will bring a distinct musical identity to two of the season’s defining evenings. His festive appearances also build on his wider role as Music Curator by DJ Ravin for SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS, shaping selected playlists and musical moments across the collection.

A Memory That Remains

The final days take a quieter turn. Guests gather around a farewell beach bonfire before being invited to take part in planting a mango tree — a living memory that remains at RAH GILI after they have returned home. It is a simple ending to a season built around light: beginning with something illuminated and ending with something planted.

André Kretschmann, General Manager at RAH GILI MALDIVES, said: “Our festive season is about giving guests the freedom to experience RAH GILI in a way that feels personal to them. One guest may find their favourite moment at sunrise, another around a table with family, and someone else beneath the stars. That is the spirit of Live Your Lifestyle. We create the moments and bring people together, but every guest makes the experience their own.”

Festive Stays

Festive stays at RAH GILI begin from USD 2,588++ per night for a Beach Pool Villa, based on the published rate. Guests staying over the festive period will also receive complimentary Half Board, offer additional value while allowing them to experience more of the island’s dining journey throughout the season. Terms & Conditions apply. As the inaugural island within the SIX & SIX PRIVATE ISLANDS collection, RAH GILI offers the first expression of a hospitality philosophy centred on choice, human connection and a genuine relationship with place.

For Circle of Light, that philosophy takes a simple form: every light tells a story, and every guest decides how theirs unfolds.